Day 248 Moroni's Doubts: A Call to Obedience

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from, thank you for joining me. Now that I'm cheering for your every success, we all experience doubts. Knowing the source of those doubts may very well save us from experiencing the same fate the Nephites did in the Book of Mormon.

Welcome to day 248 on our 365 day journey through the Book of Mormon together. Today you're going to be reading Alma chapter 58, verses 37 to 41. You will finish off that epistle from Helaman to Moroni.

And you're also going to read Alma chapter 59, which is just a few verses, no worries there. It's in Alma 59 that we see something that is quite a stark change from Alma 48 when we initially were looking at the characteristics of Captain Moroni. I want to read the verse to go straight to it.

I think you're going to catch really quick what happens here with Moroni in Alma 59:11. And now, when Moroni saw that the City of Nephi was lost, he was exceedingly sorrowful and began to doubt because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren. Now, as far as I can tell, this is the first time that we see Moroni experience doubt.

And I think it's interesting there because at any given time, every one of us can experience doubts in our lives. And look, there's a couple of different ways that we can look to the source of those doubts. Moroni knows the source of his doubts.

It says here, because of the wickedness of the people. He knows that one way that doubts—the only way that this can creep into our lives—is by our own lack of obedience. It's by us choosing wickedness rather than obedience.

This got me thinking about a conversation I had with my daughter on her mission recently where she talked about, you know, dad, it's interesting how much the little things matter. When we really focus in on our personal scripture study, when we really focus in on our companion. When we really try to make sure that we're praying and we're doing all the things that we should be doing, it's so amazing the increase of the Spirit that we have in our lives.

I think this is very telling here because remember, Moroni is a description of the guy that would shake the very powers of hell. This is a guy that we look to and we go, he's a hero for sure. And then all the other guys that are mentioned in those verses, these guys are heroes and yet they are not immune to the doubts that can creep in.

And one of the core ways that we can check ourselves at the door when doubts creep in is to check our own obedience and wickedness scale. How are we doing with the little things? Are we doing the little things in our lives that keep the spirit with us?

Because if we are, then we have the spirit to help combat those doubts. Now, other times doubts may pop in. It may have absolutely nothing to do with our worthiness.

And I totally understand that. And that's another conversation for another day. But the doubts I'm talking about here as Moroni experienced are doubts that he experienced because he knew the people were not following the commandments of the Lord.

It's a great self-check for us when we experience difficulties and doubts in our lives. When we start to question, remember the counsel from Elder Uchtdorf: "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." This is an opportunity as we learn from Moroni to check ourselves when it comes to following the commandments of the Lord. And look, if you're doing everything and you're doing all the small things, then look, this is a growing opportunity and it's a chance for us to increase in faith.

But many times our own doubts creep in because our own choices have led to those very doubts. That's an opportunity for me to look in the mirror and say, "Allen, how are you doing with the little things?" Are you doing the little things? How are you doing with your temple attendance?

How are you doing with your scripture study? How are you doing with your prayers? This is an opportunity to look at it and say, I can be a little bit more obedient to help whittle away some of those doubts I experience in my own life.

I'm grateful to Moroni for his incredible heroism and also that we see a window here that he experienced doubts because it lets me know he's human too. And I can be like him and still have doubts. And I can also repent, be a little more obedient, and experience the success that comes on the backside of that.

That's all for today, my friends. Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Keep it small, keep it simple, and always seek to be savory salt. I'll be here tomorrow, and you know I hope you are too.